Review not required until 2015

Cumberland South MLA Jamie Baillie will have his leadership reviewed at the PC Party's annual meeting in February, a year earlier than scheduled. Baillie asked for the review.

SPRINGHILL – Cumberland South MLA Jamie Baillie is going to put his PC Party leadership on the line at the party’s annual general meeting in February.

The party’s constitution requires a review to be held, but it’s not required until at least February 2015. The party leader says he wants the membership to have a say on his leadership before then.

“I’m very encouraged by what I’ve been hearing from our members since the election,” Baillie said. “I respect the democratic will of the party and I am accountable to them as leader.”

From third-party status after the 2009 election, when 10 years of PC government came to an end, Baillie was able to reclaim official opposition status for the party in October, while Baillie, who was elected leader in 2010 and won a byelection in October of that year, was re-elected in Cumberland South.

Baillie wrote party president Janet Fryday Dorey earlier this week requesting the leadership vote happen at the February meeting. The PC executive accepted that request on Tuesday and have scheduled the vote.

“Jamie became leader at a difficult time in our party. He’s energized the grassroots and attracted hundreds of new members,” Fryday Dorey said. “We respect his request and look forward to hearing directly from our members.”

The annual meeting is set for Feb. 7 to 9 at the Weston Nova Scotia in Halifax.